Older reloading manuals ok to use?

[ronas]

I'm starting to shoot more and reload now that I'm retired. I have Sierra two volume manual dated 1989 and Speer manual dated 1981.

Is the information in these manuals current in terms of use even though they where published a good while ago.

[domokun]

You can use them and shouldn't have any issues with it but there maybe improved loads only found in the newer manuals.

[awheelman357]

yes you can still that data. if you compare it to some of the newer stuff you might find max loads a little high. i always refer to older manual.

[Bend]

Guess I'll be the contrarian.

The newer guides reflect the much better pressure reading devices used today. Also, the newer powders are listed not to mention the newer cartridges.

[rksimple]

They're still good. I have ones from the 50's and 60's. Sometimes those are the only places I can find data when it comes to some old powders I've come by.

[popeye4]

Sometimes the "new" manuals are the same "old" manuals with new covers.....

That being said, older manuals won't have the new powders, new rounds, new bullets, etc. I don't think the old data is radically different from current editions, though, and you can back off a bit on your starting loads.

But manuals don't cost that much and sometimes its nice to get something new!

[tankerman]

Older manuals are not the same.

Pressures were first estimated, then came CUP, followed by PSI. Powders may have the same names, but are not the same powder.

Some old manual don't even list a bullet type, just weight, no primer type or brass type, the only thing named is the powder.

More accurate pressure measuring and lawyers have helped ensure modern manuals have an extra safety barrier built in.

[bohoki]

hell u use one form the 70s it covers bullseye powder 9mm and 45 acp so thats all i need

it is pretty thin since then they didnt have all them oddball calibers like 10mm,40 s&w,45 glock,357 sig

according to this book 223 is a new and upcomming cartridge and a new powder from winchester called 748benchrest is an accurate powder

[mike100]

Yes, No, and maybe. Real popular powders show lower in the new manuals and I can read between the lines that the new data was lawyered down to a for-sure safe load in any conceivable circumstance.

Then again, formulations over the years change too. If you work your way up when using new propellants you aren't real familiar with, you can determine a lot on your own. Pressure signs or no more speed on the chronograph for that extra 10th grain of powder etc.

[dgey]

The older reloading manuels have hotter load info. The new ones have been through the lawyers and dumbed down for the sake of law suits.

[buffybuster]

Guess I'll be the contrarian.

The newer guides reflect the much better pressure reading devices used today. Also, the newer powders are listed not to mention the newer cartridges.

The new manuals reflect pressures measured through direct piezeo electric transducer measurement, which is MUCH more accurate on the peak pressure but also provides information on the pressure curve. The older manuals using the CUP method, did not have this information. Also powders of the same name has evolved over time and their burnrates may have changed enough that older loading data may not be satisfactory or borderline.

While I still refer to older manuals, I cross reference with new manuals. If new data is unavailable, I start low and work up.

People have stated that ammunition companies have gotten so liability conscious that they are reducing their published loads. That may or may be true (chronographs were few and far between back in the day) but it probably has some basis on the new data they have available and the realization that they were running alot hotter than they thought they were in the past.

[Waldog]

Older manuals are invaluable if you have a quantity of powder that is no longer made. I have a few pounds of WIN 785 that has been out of production for 20 years. My old manuals allow me to still use the stuff!

[ojisan]

I try to compare old, new and different bullet and powder company manuals.
There are some bad typos out there in some manuals, you may only pick up on it when doing data comparisons.
Yes, some new manuals appear to be lawyered down, not just tested better.
Start low, work up, don't push the max.